"I have not gotten anything done today!" (it is really just stinkin' thinkin'!) It's as if my worth as a person, mother, homeschooler, etc., comes from what I have accomplished each day. I think I am not alone in this kind of thinking.
Of course this is not true. I woke up, took a shower, typed & sent an email. I made coffee, ate breakfast, and made sure my kids ate breakfast. I changed the load in the washer and dryer. I called the doctor's office to make an appointment. I unloaded the dishwasher. I hugged my daughter. I even cried a little (that's another story... no big deal.) I made sure my youngest started some school work. I texted my husband... and this was all before 9:15 a.m.
I was thinking about all of this later and realized, maybe I feel that way because I didn't get anything do that I WANTED to do. I want to do other things. I do not gain anything personally by unloading the dishwasher. I don't get excited by doing laundry. Yet all of those things are necessary in my day-to-day life. I may not feel all of these little things are worthwhile, but the honest truth is... that they are.
If I didn't unload the dishwasher, we would not have clean dishes to eat from. If I didn't wash the clothes, soon there would be mountains of dirty laundry and no clean clothes in the dressers (though I think this would take a while!) Someone else would need to make the coffee and the doctor's appointments. These are all important things that need to be done.
I think that today's world makes us feel like the big things we do are only the important things. But I'm not so sure that that's how it really is. The little things DO make a difference. My husband relies on me to wash the clothes so he doesn't need to, he can work on other things (like the budget and bills, which I am SO thankful that he does!)
There is a song that I like by Josh Wilson called "Dream Small." It has some of the "upside down" thinking that I have enjoyed more these days. He says in the song, "It's a Momma singing songs about the Lord. It's a Daddy spending time that the world says he can not afford, these simple moments change the world...Dream small, don't buy the lot you gotta do it all, just let Jesus use you where you are, one day at a time. Live well, loving God and others are yourself, find little ways where only you can help, with His great love. A tiny rock can make a giant fall, Dream Small."
I find a lot of truth in those lyrics, that simple moments change the world. How many of us remember our Mom hugging us, our Dad coming to our sports games, or dropping us off at school on a rainy day. These things are not huge things, that are simple moments that can change the trajectory of a day, even a life. I've heard stories of people saying how an act of kindness touched them. A simple smile, offer to help, a hug, bringing flowers... this is the important stuff of life... it shows love for others, and in turn a love for God.
So now you know what a page in my journal looks like... lots of thoughts rambling, but something profound in the middle of it all. These thoughts changed my "stinkin' thinkin' into something good, better... I am needed, I am treasured and I am loved. So are each of you.
Maybe our day-to-day purpose isn't to battle any giants, climb major mountains or daring feats... it can be just to love our families, show kindness to others that is important in the world, and keep doing whatever we need to. The simple moments really turn into big things, important things, valuable things.
You can listen to the song by Josh Wilson here.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
1 Samuel 17:50
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
Romans 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
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